Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Changed Fuel Filter, lift pump not lifting!

[CHinton]

I changed my fuel filter this afternoon and hit the starter to prime the system a couple times and started the truck. It ran a little bit and then died. I have since tried to prime the system several times. I've loosened the banjo connector per the service manual and no fuel comes out there. Pulled the fuel filter and is just barely damp at the very bottom.



Is there anything else I should do before replacing the lift pump? Is the NAPA pump an acceptable replacement or should I wait until Monday and get a cummins pump? How was the engine running before if the lift pump wasn't working? Where do you guys install the fuel pressure sending unit, on one of the fuel pressure test points? What should I expect to pay for a new pump?



Lots of questions I know, but this is new to me.



Thanks

Chad

 

[lmills]

sounds like the same old, same old. People have had this problem quite a few times. They change their fuel filter then the lift pump is to weak to prime the system.



Try wiggling and/or cleaning the connector that hooks to the lift pump. Sometimes the contacts get corroded and it will stop working. Good luck.

 

[CHinton]

I was afraid of that... I can hear the pump running after bumping the starter. Truck has half a tank of fuel. I've got a call into Cummins Southern Plains and hope I can pick the part up tonight and get it on the truck tomorrow.



thanks

 

[CHinton]

Just thought I would finalize this thread.



Paul at Cummins Southern Plains in Tulsa, OK was very helpful. He met me at their shop at 9PM and sold me a new lift pump and associated goodies. He was a pleasure to talk to, said they had installed several Cummins engines into Ford trucks, guys replacing their PS. Replaced the LP this morning and my truck is happy again. Last time I had done anything of this significance to a vehicle, was replacing the starter in a diesel Delta 88. This was easier.



Full set of gauges on my shopping/wish list now.

Chad

 

[Ncostello]

If you change you filter often enough... you'll see that the pump develops the inability to prime over a period of time. Most likely I believe its the eventual weakening of the internal relief valve spring. When mine was new... it would self prime in seconds. Later it became harder and harder. Finally it would spin until the battery went dead and not flow a drop.

 

[Duane George]

i pressurize my fuel tank to help prime the lift pump. takes some of the work off

the lift pump.

fwiw



Duane

 

[Ncostello]

Duane... I also tried putting 5psi on the tank once. It helped me none. The problem I figured had to be the fact that there is a return line which makes it way back directly to the VP44. If the pressure is equal on both sides of the VP44 injection pump... the fuel will not flow in either direction. This was my self explanation as to why putting pressure on the tank didn't help my lift pump take prime at all. If there was no return... it would surely work.

 

[Duane George]

neil... ... ... ... can't say you are wrong. only that it seemed to help me. and i think we

used a lot more than 5 psi. we had fuel coming back out the fill tube. its kinda messy but seemed to work. used this method when i changed out the lift pump and normal repalcement of the fuel filter. the truck seems to fire sooner that just using the bump start method.



Duane